Sponsored by Nuclear Blast USA, Decibel Magazine, Amoeba Music L.A., Boss Printing, Dean Guitars, and Full Metal Jackie, the world’s first-ever film festival dedicated to heavy metal music will be taking place at the Downtown Independent Cinema in Los Angeles, California this coming March 31st through April 3rd, 2011.

In March of 2003, “The Hottest Band in the World,” KISS, embarked on a concert tour throughout Japan, stopping for three Crazy Nights at the legendary Budokan Hall in Tokyo. With consecutive sold out shows bringing out over 14,200 Japanese Super-Fans each night, the Psycho Circus was as evident outside of the venue as it was inside. Dressed to Kill, the kabuki-faced fans from all walks of life joined en force to celebrate this much anticipated event. This KISS Army was more like a KISS Family. With lavish costumes and elaborate face make-up, this spectacle was unrivaled by any modern day costume ball. In other words, it’s Cold Gin time again! “Faces of Budokan” puts you front row for the “show” before the show. It’s like “Heavy Metal Parking Lot” with an extra shot of sake and a spicy tuna roll!

BEYOND THE THUNDER

Directors: Gregg Ferguson & Kurt Squiers (USA)

Finally, a documentary with balls. How did millions of fans connect with AC/DC? To find out… we asked them.

The mission: create a unique film about the fans of one of the greatest bands the world has ever known, AC/DC. The inaugural Heavy Metal Film Festival has been given the unique opportunity to screen 16 minutes of the film for its Los Angeles premiere, as directors Gregg Ferguson & Kurt Squiers are still battling time to complete the project.

DEATH ANGEL: A Thrashumentary (Trailer)

Director: Tommy Jones (USA)

This is an exclusive 12-minute trailer to the DVD that will be released in 2012. This film gives the viewer an in-depth look into the mighty DEATH ANGEL, one of the longest-running thrash metal acts from the San Francisco Bay Area known for turning out historic thrash bands such as METALLICA, TESTAMENT and EXODUS. With their classic debut album The Ultra-Violence nearing its 25th anniversary, DEATH ANGEL has survived a span of 30 years of activity and now was the time to finally tell their story. Filmed on the “Relentless Retribution” world tour, the film shows the band on the road talking about their career, is cut with “fly-on-the-wall” documentary-style interview footage, and captures their trademarked, high-energy live performances that leaves their fans purged of sweat and adrenaline.

CAPITAL METAL

Director: Mohammad Kabeer (INDIA)

Capital Metal is a documentary about the local metal scene in New Delhi, India. It features big bands in the scene likeThird Sovereign and Undying Inc., as well as little known yet extremely talented bands like Phobia and Guillotine. The film focuses on various issues related to the scene, from handling their day jobs and playing metal to how they hold their own in a market dominated by Bollywood. Since no band in Delhi (no matter how popular they are) can play metal to support themselves, they all need a second job. The film was made in eight days with a meager budget of 200 dollars as part of a college project. It is the first metal documentary to be made in India and explores the passion to play music despite all odds and shows us that metal exists outside of Europe and America.

Miami International Film Festival award-winner Las Marimbas Del Infierno (Marimbas From Hell) by Julio Hernández Cordón(Guatemala/France/México) will be opening the festival on Thursday evening, March 31st.

The first portion of the maiden line-up for 2011’s Heavy Metal Film Festival can be viewed at the official HMFF site. Click HERE to download HMFF movie posters (Password: b=8X+6G).